SPORT / WINDSURF
Press release N°25 - monday 15 september 2003

RAPHAELA LE GOUVELLO
Solitary crossing of the Pacific

Half way after 41 days at sea…

Another psychological watershed has been overcome. After overcoming sea sickness, forceful cleaning of the goose barnacles and the mid-crossing passage point leading to Tuamotu, Raphaëla le Gouvello has just entered the second half of her itinerary that will lead her to Tahiti.

Today, the Minister of Sport Jean-François LAMOUR conveyed a long message of support to comfort Raphaëla and renew her courage: « I would like to express how your initiative, both on a sportive and human is a model of inspiration both for me and others who are following your progression.”
Last week, Laurent FABIUS, who is fascinated by this initiative, addressed a message of encouragement to Raphaëla le Gouvello, that ended with these words: « I am supporting you from the bottom of my hear and I wish you great success.»

Thursday 11 september, during the telephone broadcasting, Raphaëla conversed «scientifically» with M. LESAFFRE, an ornithology amateur, about the birds she had been observing since she left South America. The speaker underlined how all of her observations were novel and brought a great deal of new information to the scientific community who are studying species that live under these latitudes. Raphaëla’s objective is to gather as many details as possible on the behavior of the birds that cross her route.

Determined to overcome the invasion of the goose barnacles, Raphaëla le Gouvello resumed them under the board. Previous experience helping, she now is able to get rid of them very fast in spite of their ability to adhere against the hull again early last week...but for how long will the hull be clear? IN the short term, the mission is accomplished and the surfboard can resume its course with a more sustained rhythm.

Weather hazards have become the team’s main subject of discussion again at the PC course. Guy SAILLARD’s instructions are strict go up towards the 9° Sud to avoid a zone of depression that is coming from the South and that generates sustained winds and substantial swell (more than 4 to 5 hollow).

Difficult for Raphaëla to imagine how to sail correctly in a tough jerky sea conditions. Frustrated at the idea of having to abandon her Western course that is almost rectilinear, our navigator decides to follow these instructions scrupulously and heads North: «I don’t really feel like fighting against the southern swell! It would not be great fun and I run the risk of capsizing again…»The dreaded weekend was not as bad as initially predicted finally.

Rémi PELLETIER, journalist at TF1, comes to the pc coursetoday. His visit provides Raphaëla the possibility of assessing the situation now that she has made the first part of the crossing without too many mishaps : « these 40 days at sea have been filled with good and instructive . The separation with land was not too harsh and the rhythm imposed by the team on a daily basis allow me to preserve a certain notion of time. As far as the moral is concerned…there are ups and downs and tears never last long…, “

Raphaëla always maintains a rigorous dail preparation and is always conscious that «physical success in such conditions depends on all of these details …»

Despite all this, a few problems come up. Stuck in the footstrap for many hours, her right foot makes her suffer. The sole of the foot probably is inflamed and Raphaëla worries about getting blisters. However, thanks to sunny conditions, washing up is simple and this helps her: «I think positive just by imagining future moments…this really helps».

Raphaëla was positioned at 16h30 by 8°59 SUD / 113°07 OUEST.
Water temperature : 25°15 C
Distance covered in the last 24h : 67 nautical miles
Total distance covered since Lima: 2230 nautical miles
Distance to cover until the passage point at Tuamotu : 1730 nautical miles
Distance to cover until Papeete: 2105 nautical miles

News of Raphaëla le Gouvello will be communicated Thursday 18 septembre.

SOUND is made available on a daily basis at the PC Course at 1 6 h 30 at the Maison de la Radio (CAPE) as well as VIDEO IMAGES on TF1 and photos free of copyright. Contact us.

For any question to Raphaëla,please contact us.


Management of the Sprt Event-press: Agence HICKORY
Chief project manager: Arnaud PARSAL-tél: 01 56 03 69 13 - email: sportsoutdoor@hickory.fr
Manager: Anne COMBIER tél: 01 56 03 69 00 –cell : 06 07 69 23 63 - email: annec@hickory.fr

Contact press TF1 : Laurent PETIT tél : 01 41 41 29 59 – email: lpetit@tf1.fr

Follow daily reports Raphaëla Le Gouvelloon her web site at :
(www.raphaela-legouvello.com)

Radio transmissions from Maison de Radio France will take place every day 16H30 from Monday September 8th onwards.

SOUND will be made available during the transmissions organized every day by the PC Course at 15 h 30 at the Maison de la Radio (CAPE) as well as VIDEO IMAGES broadcast by TF1 and photos free of copyright. PLEASE CONTACT US.

If You want to communicate with Raphaëla directly, please contact us directly

Follow current events pertainting to Raphaëla Le Gouvello on her Internet site:
(www.raphaela-legouvello.com)

Management and Administration of the Sports Event- press :
Agence HICKORY
32, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière 75010 Paris
Project Manager:
Arnaud PARSAL-tel: 01 56 03 69 13 - email: sportsoutdoor@hickory.fr
Manager :
Anne COMBIER tel: 01 56 03 69 00 - mob: 06 07 69 23 63
email: annec@hickory.fr

Contact press TF1 :
Laurent PETIT tel : 01 41 41 29 59 - email: lpetit@tf1.fr

OUR PARTNERS

WITH THE OFFICIAL SUPPORT OF